Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-30
PROFESSIONS FOR WOMEN
Ella Wheeler on Women Struggling
forGoId and GIory--Would be Fe-
male Poets and Writers.
To Women Who Ask For AdTice-W9.
men BIinditO Their Deficiencies.
Young Girls and the Stage
Some Hints For Stage Struck NJ sidsns-A
Profession Suggested for Young Wo-
.msn-Whst They Should Exp:ct
Copyrighted, 1881


wisely and satisfactorily to sdvise an
other person. The most difficult OF al
is wisely and satisfactorily to advise q
woman.
AT the present time there are more
women struggling for an Individual place
in the world of achievement than ever be-
fore. Any woman who has in the least
degree attained succt So in her chosen vo
cation is appealed to as an oracle by
hordes Of ambitious beginners, and
begged to show them the way. Scarcely
q mail arrives that does not bring me one
or more letters from girls or women who
are DESTROYS of earning gold or glory. So
numerous have these appeals become
that an open letter of advice seems to be
the only response possible, as & separate
reply to each request would oblige me
to dispense with all other occupations.
The msjority Of the women who write
me say that it is necessary for them to be
self-suppoIting, and having heard that
literature is q profitable business, will
be so kind as TO tell them how to get into
the favor of editors. Almost always they
inclose several of their productions for
my criticism. Often they request me to
send their articles to magazines andrews
papers with personal letter Of recon-
mendation. The Enclosures are usually
of medium merit, often absolutely worth
less from 8 marketable standpoint.
In my whole literary experience l never
received but one MS from young lady
which evinced sufficient genius to Justify
me in urging her to attempt literature as
profession and means of support. She
possessed heaven-born gift, and with
out my advice the force of her genius
would have compelled her TO write.
believe more strongly each day live
that true genius or great ability seldom
seeks advice. Il only seeks an outlet.
The artesisn spring has to be bored and
its course directed. The natural spring
forces its own way through earth and
rock.
The woman who does not feel that she
has thoughts and expressions within her
strong enough to force their way through
every obstacle and ito c0mpelithe world 10
listen can never hope for marked success
in literature.
If she feels that unconquerable impulse
toward creation which is divine in its
source and power, she will not ssk to be
shown the WY out OF the loan into the
light. Success may be long in coming,
but she will win it at last without being
led into it,
The author who will succeed is not the
one who loses hope after encOuntericg
obstacles, and sits bscK laDguidly waiting
for older writers to dispose Of her work.
But it requires decided talent, psrsever-
ence, and patience, an unc0Dquerable
zmbitioB, and an intense love of the work
TO attain success in literature.
There is no worthy or absolute success
possible in labor we dislike. Unless
the hearts blood and the brains fire
mingle in the effort it cannot thrive. We
must, however, bring something beside
enthusiasm to profession Of any kind.
We must bring ability or at least adapt
ability. I am afraid womsn are more
blind to their deficiencies in this respect
than men.
l once knew lady who was consumed
with passion for the stage. She had no
voice, nc physique, no dramatic or humor-
Gus ability, no power. Yet yesr after yesr
she made her arrangements with stubborn
perseverance,, and appeared IN various
roles and companies as an actress. Her
appearances were esuCcession of failures.
Nothing better than a third-rste success
was ever achieved by her. All her NOR
tifYing i3scos she attributed TO accident,
ell her unfsvorable notices to envy or
lack of Judgment. She lived and died,
after having wasted her youth and for
tune in the belief that she wss gifted with
great dramatic power. Her perseverance
and energy would have won her bril-
liant success in any labor or vocation for
which she possessed particle of ability. |
Many young ladies ask my advice con-
corning dramatic career for themselves. |
The pay is great factor in the amuse-
mentioning world. We must be enter |
tanned, and times flies, young actors grow |
old, old ones die, and the ranks needs |
must be filed. 1t is worthy profession, |
when worthy natures adorn 1t. But it is |
8 hard life st its easiest and best. In 6 |
dramatic career more than any other |
q woman should feel the impelling force |
of CREST talent or the extreme command |
of necessity before she enters upon it.
AS rule it calls for the sacrifice of all |
domestic comfort, the outlay of every |
particle OF brain and body power, and |
demands unremitting drudgery for years |
before the rewards are obtained. After |
the rewards do come the labor of study |
and rehearsal and constant appearances
taxes ali the vitality of strong woman |
and allows no time for home life.
The pretty young girl who dreams only
Of glory and riches, needs to weigh all |
these considerations calmly before she
ventures upon this most arduous and IN
certain OF careers.
So many and great are the obstacles ii
The way of success in literature or on the
stage, can but wonder at the persist
ancy of girls and women who, without
ability or reason, stand before the locked
doors of these professions and beg their
older sisters, VINO have found an entrance
Tor themselves, to LEI them in.
Women are often so imprscticable. /
10 not think il is the fault OF sex, but the
result OF custom. They have been kept
out of the active business avenues SO long
hat now, when they are permitted or
compelled to walk therein, they 60 utterly
# random.
One young lady wrote to me concern
ng her very sad and pathetic situation, /,
md begging me to assist her to some kind
If work
SSe said il could lend her or borrow
or her $500 II would enable her to take
essons In bookkeeping, and then she
;ould earn money to support herself and
ged another, and in time repay the loan.
tried to make her re:lize that 1t would
,e quicker and more certain method OF /
srning q livelihood TO do good house I
7ork than TO borrow money to learn c